Poor choices have consequences

I am to the point where some of the decisions people make do not surprise me. But the results of their decision can have life altering consequences.

Last Saturday I received a phone call from my stepdad in the middle of the night. I was half asleep and still groggy, but this was a huge red flag; I can remember thinking that something bad must have happened. Sure enough it did. My younger brother was in a car accident. Mind you, he is twelve but about the size of a nine year old. Miraculously, he and his friend were both okay. His friend suffered a foot injury, which isn't great considering that fact he is the senior kicker for the high school football team. As for my brother he walked away with abrasions and bruising to the abdomen and face.

The story of the accident is that the driver in the other vehicle was under the influence of either drugs and/or alcohol. He then proceeded to steal his brother's vehicle and take it for a joy ride. Well the joy part did not last long; he crossed the median and caused a head-on collision. The most shocking part is that he just walked away from the accident and left two teenage boys to fend for themselves. Luckily the police caught him a few hours later.

Even though the EMTs did not think anything was wrong, they still took the boys to the hospital to be certain. My brother had to stay on the backboard until the doctor determined there was no head or neck injury. While he was waiting, my brother told my parents, “this is gunna cost you a lot of money,” knowing that he did not have insurance. Which normally, my brother would not even think of that. Since the accident he has been very cautious and “lovable.” And not to mention he has not slept well. Although it was a bad thing that happened, I think it will really open his eyes and make him see the consequences of someone’s poor choices.

My brother was right about one thing, it will cost my parents, a lot. Even if they did have health insurance the ambulance and ER visit would not have been covered, because it was a car accident. The car insurance would have to cover it, even though it was not one of my parent’s vehicles. For the car insurance to cover it, there is a $500 deductible or fee, plus all the cars under the insurance would be hiked. There is the great state of Michigan for you, no fault insurance will bite you in the ass. Either way, it is costly.

People, if you bring one thing home from this, do not let people drive under the influence of anything and do not let them be distracted while driving; it can devastating consequences.